Treatment results and patterns of failure in 646 patients with carcinoma of the eyelids, pinna, and nose

Electronic brachytherapy for treatment of non-melanoma skin cancers: clinical results and toxicities

Purpose

Although surgical approaches are standard for most non-melanomatous skin cancers, some patients are not candidates due to medical co-morbidities or functional or cosmetic or lesion location. High-dose-rate electronic brachytherapy (HDR-EBT) may be an alternative treatment modality.

Material and methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted from April 2011 to April 2013. All lesions were pathologically confirmed as malignant basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma. A HDR-EBT system delivered a median biological equivalent dose of 50 Gy total to a depth of 0.1-0.5 cm using various sizes of applicators. Treatment feasibility, acute and late toxicity, cosmetic outcomes, and local recurrence were assessed.

Results

Thirty-three patients with a mean age of 76 years with 50 cutaneous lesions were treated. Locations included 17 extremity lesions and 33 head and neck lesions. After treatments, acute grade 3 moist desquamation developed in 9 of the lesions (18%). Acute grade 4 ulceration developed in 3 lesions in the lower extremity (6%) and 1 upper lip lesion (2%). These toxicities were improved after a median of 20 days. Amongst the 4 lesions with grade 4 toxicities, a greater proportion were in lower extremity lesions compared to head and neck lesions (75% vs. 25%). There was no difference in the rate of grade 3 and 4 toxicities between patients aged ≤ 75 years and aged > 75 years (p = 0.082). With a mean long-term follow-up of 45.6 months, there was 1 local recurrence treated with surgery and no reported late toxicities.

Conclusions

Our experience with HDR-EBT for non-melanomatous skin cancers is encouraging in terms of efficacy and convenience for patients. Our long-term follow-up shows a good response in all treated sites. Caution should be used for extremity sites, and more fractionated regimens should be considered to avoid severe acute toxicities.

A Systematic Review of Primary, Adjuvant, and Salvage Radiation Therapy for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The gold standard of treatment for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is surgery radiation therapy (RT) is used selectively as definitive treatment for low-risk tumors or as adjuvant/salvage treatment for high-risk tumors. There is a lack of standardized studies evaluating the efficacy of RT in either clinical scenario.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of primary and adjuvant/salvage RT for the treatment of cSCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science was performed for studies that reported outcomes of cSCC treated with RT to the primary site alone. Outcomes included local control (LC), local recurrence (LR), nodal metastases (NM), distant metastases (DM), disease-specific death (DSD), and recurrence-free survival (RFS).

RESULTS

Forty-six studies with 4,141 tumors were included. Pooled LC and LR rates were 87.3% and 8.6%, respectively. The rates of NM, DM, DSD, and RFS were 4.8%, 3.5%, 5.3%, and 73.5%, respectively. Local recurrence was significantly higher for T3 and T4 tumors, with rates above 25.9%.

CONCLUSION

LR after RT to the primary site increased with increasing tumor stage, highlighting the importance of clear surgical margins for high-risk tumors. Prospective randomized studies characterizing outcomes by tumor stage for RT compared with surgery are needed to inform guidelines.

Tumor Control Probability Modeling for Radiation Therapy of Keratinocyte Carcinoma

Summary

Skin cancer patients may be treated definitively using radiation therapy (RT) with electrons, kilovoltage, or megavoltage photons depending on tumor stage and invasiveness. This study modeled tumor control probability (TCP) based on the pooled clinical outcome data of RT for primary basal and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (BCC and cSCC, respectively). Four TCP models were developed and found to be potentially useful in developing optimal treatment schemes based on recommended ASTRO 2020 Skin Consensus Guidelines for primary, keratinocyte carcinomas (i.e. BCC and cSCC).

Background

Radiotherapy (RT) with electrons or photon beams is an excellent primary treatment option for keratinocyte carcinoma (KC), particularly for non-surgical candidates. Our objective is to model tumor control probability (TCP) based on the pooled clinical data of primary basal and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (BCC and cSCC, respectively) in order to optimize treatment schemes.

Methods

Published reports citing crude estimates of tumor control for primary KCs of the head by tumor size (diameter: ≤2 cm and >2 cm) were considered in our study. A TCP model based on a sigmoidal function of biological effective dose (BED) was proposed. Three-parameter TCP models were generated for BCCs ≤2 cm, BCCs >2cm, cSCCs ≤2 cm, and cSCCs >2 cm. Equivalent fractionation schemes were estimated based on the TCP model and appropriate parameters.

Results

TCP model parameters for both BCC and cSCC for tumor sizes ≤2 cm and >2cm were obtained. For BCC, the model parameters were found to be TD₅₀ = 56.62 ± 6.18 × 10^-3 Gy, k = 0.14 ± 2.31 × 10⁻² Gy⁻¹ and L = 0.97 ± 4.99 × 10⁻³ and TD₅₀ = 55.78 ± 0.19 Gy, k = 1.53 ± 0.20 Gy⁻¹ and L = 0.94 ± 3.72 × 10⁻³ for tumor sizes of ≤2 cm and >2 cm, respectively. For SCC the model parameters were found to be TD₅₀ = 56.81 ± 19.40 × 10⁴ Gy, k = 0.13 ± 7.92 × 10⁴ Gy⁻¹ and L = 0.96 ± 1.31 × 10^-2 and TD₅₀ = 58.44 ± 0.30 Gy, k = 2.30 ± 0.43 Gy⁻¹ and L = 0.91± 1.22 × 10⁻² for tumors ≤2cm and >2 cm, respectively. The TCP model with the derived parameters predicts that radiation regimens with higher doses, such as increasing the number of fractions and/or dose per fraction, lead to higher TCP, especially for KCs >2 cm in size.

Conclusion

Four TCP models for primary KCs were developed based on pooled clinical data that may be used to further test the recommended kV and MV x-ray and electron RT regimens from the 2020 ASTRO guidelines. Increasing both number of fractions and dose per fraction may have clinically significant effects on tumor control for tumors >2 cm in size for both BCC and cSCC.

Basal cell carcinoma: Contemporary approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

As the most common human cancer worldwide and continuing to increase in incidence, basal cell carcinoma is associated with significant morbidity and cost. Continued advances in research have refined both our insight and approach to this seemingly ubiquitous disease. This 2-part continuing medical education series provides a comprehensive and contemporary review of basal cell carcinoma. The second article in this series will present both the current standard of care and newly developed approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of this disease.

Management of BCC and SCC of the Head and Neck

Background

For decades radiotherapy (RT) has been shown to treat skin cancers; however, the indications, delivery methods, and techniques for RT continue to evolve.

Methods

Relevant prospective and retrospective reports were reviewed that addressed outcomes with, indications for, and delivery techniques used with RT for the management of cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck.

Results

Rates of local control higher than 90% are typically achievable for early-stage BCC and SCC of the head and neck. RT is often recommended for tumors located in cosmetically or functionally sensitive areas of the face, for patients who cannot tolerate anesthesia, for those taking anticoagulants, or for patients who prefer RT to other treatment options. A wide range of radiation doses, daily fractionation schedules, and radiation techniques have been shown to be effective for management. In general, postoperative local radiation is recommended following excision for patients with high-risk factors, including those whose tumors have close or positive margins, perineural invasion, invasion of the bone or nerves, or those with recurrent disease.

Conclusions

RT plays an integral role in the treatment of primary and postoperative cutaneous BCC and SCC of the head and neck. Prospective trials are in progress to address the roles of concurrent systemic therapy and RT for both cutaneous BCC and SCC.

Office-based radiation therapy for cutaneous carcinoma: Evaluation of 710 treatments

Skin cancers are the most common malignancies and, historically, ionizing radiation has played an important role in their treatment. However, less experienced dermatologists generally consider radiation last in the line of therapeutic options. The authors sought to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of office-based elective radiation therapy for cutaneous carcinoma. A retrospective study of 604 basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and 106 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) irradiated between 1971-96 was performed. The percentage of patients who developed tumor recurrence during the follow-up period was calculated using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Cox's proportional model was used to assess the prognostic factors that might have influenced the recurrences. The recurrence rates for BCC and SCC were 11.5 and 16.5 per 1000 patient-years, respectively. The 5-year cure rates were 94.4% for BCC and 92.7% for SCC, and the 15-year cure rates were 84.8% and 78.6%, respectively. Tumor location on the nasolabial fold (OR 4.4; 95% IC, 1.3-14.7) and tumor size > or = 10 mm (OR 2.14; 95% IC, 1.03-4.45) were independent predictors of BCC recurrence. This study suggested that radiation therapy is an effective treatment for BCC and SCC and should be considered as a first option in many cases.

Audit of clinical and histological prognostic factors in primary invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin: assessment in a minimum 5 year follow-up study after conventional excisional surgery

In an attempt to evaluate the prognostic factors for primary squamous cell carcinoma of the skin treated by conventional surgery, a 6 year (1990-1995) cohort comprising 171 patients was analysed. Of these 171 patients, 157 were confirmed as having been treated for invasive squamous cell carcinoma, of whom 64 (41%) died within 5 years of treatment from causes other than squamous cell carcinoma, and were therefore defined as indeterminate. The remaining 93 patients were determinate patients; 85 lived without recurrence or metastasis for at least 5 years after treatment, and eight died of their disease. Comparing the groups who were alive or had died of disease at 5 year follow-up, the tumour diameter and tumour thickness were significantly greater in the eight patients who died (P = 0.02 and P = 0.0057, respectively) but there were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to age, deep resection margin clearance, lateral epidermal resection margin clearance, lymphocyte response or degree of tumour differentiation. This study defines the 5 year follow-up outcome following conventional surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, related to histological parameters, which, if routinely reported, would allow valid comparisons to be made between differing primary therapies.

Radiotherapy in the treatment of dermatologic malignancies

Although advances in surgical techniques, particularly micrographic surgery, have considerably expanded its role in the management of dermatologic malignancies, radiotherapy remains of considerable value. Its use should be considered in particular for the appropriate solid tumors in older patients, for metastatic disease, and for the more radioresponsive tumors including Merkel cell carcinoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, and the cutaneous lymphomas.

Necrosis following radiotherapy for carcinoma of the pinna

PURPOSE

Radiation therapy is often the preferred modality of treatment for carcinoma of the pinna because it avoids the cosmetic defect of surgery. However, radiation oncologists are sometimes reluctant to irradiate the ear because of the risk of subsequent necrosis. The goal of this study was to establish the long-term disease control and necrosis rates following irradiation of the external ear.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A retrospective analysis was undertaken of 138 courses of curative radiotherapy given to 128 patients for biopsy-proven basal (70 courses), squamous (62 courses), or mixed (6 courses) tumors of the pinna between January 1, 1982, and December 31, 1991, at the Kingston Regional Cancer Center.

RESULTS

The median age of the patients was 73 (range 43-94) and the median size of the tumors was 12 mm (range 3-50 mm). Treatment was given using orthovoltage X rays (79) or electrons (59). The most common dose prescription was 35 Gy/5 fractions; total doses ranged from 17.50 to 64 Gy. The median follow-up is 58 months (range 6-149). The actuarial 5-year local control rate is 93%; the actuarial necrosis rate at 5 years is 13%. Most necroses healed with conservative management; only two patients required surgery for necrosis. We analyzed the following factors as possible predictors of radiation necrosis: patient age, size of lesion, histology, fraction size, total dose, overall time, and beam energy. Only daily fraction sizes > 6 Gy (p = 0.0093) and treatment times < 5 days (p = 0.0053) were significantly associated with an increased risk of necrosis.

CONCLUSION

To reduce the risk of necrosis, radiation therapy for external ear cancer should be given using protracted fractionation.

Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Nose

The goal of this study was to determine the demographic features, clinical presentation and treatment of basal cell carcinomas of the nose. To this end, a retrospective chart review of 229 patients, who presented to the Toronto Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre between January 1990 and January 1993, was conducted. There were 229 malignancies in 229 consecutive patients. Sixty-six percent of the patients were female and the overall mean age was 70 years. The ala was the most common site followed by the tip, lateral nose, dorsum, alar groove, root and columella. There were no cases of metastases. One hundred and two patients were treated with surgery and 101 patients received radiotherapy. The remainder were treated with electrodessication and curettage. Various methods of reconstruction were used and are discussed. This study demonstrates the various presentations of basal cell carcinoma of the nose and the usefulness and roles of a multidisciplinary team in its assessment and treatment.

Principles of management of basal and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

There are a number of options available to the physician for the primary management of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. The most commonly used treatment modalities are primary resection, radiation therapy, and Mohs' micrographic surgery. Although each of these modalities can be used to treat most skin cancers in a variety of settings, each of these forms of cancer treatment is more appropriate in some settings and less appropriate in others. The role of each mode of therapy is discussed, based on effectiveness for cure, short and long term side effects, and cost of treatment. The appropriate role of the physician treating skin carcinoma is to choose the most effective treatment based on the above criteria and not to make the tumor fit any particular treatment modality.

Ionizing radiation therapy in dermatology

The introduction of new surgical techniques and other therapeutic modalities has markedly influenced the use of ionizing radiation therapy in dermatology. X-rays and electron beams are now used only for a limited number of indications in carefully selected patients. Since surgical approaches have gained popularity in the treatment of skin tumors, not all dermatologists are familiar with the benefits of ionizing radiation for patients with cutaneous neoplasms and certain other skin disorders. This article reviews modern indications for radiation therapy in dermatology. Important physical and biologic factors, radiation side effects, radiation protection measures, and therapeutic results will also be discussed. Although the use of radiotherapy in dermatology has in large part been supplanted in recent years by other forms of treatment, ionizing radiation continues to be an essential therapeutic alternative for many cutaneous tumors and some skin diseases. It is important to be familiar with the principles of radiotherapy so that optimal therapy can be selected for individual patients.

Management of periocular basal cell carcinoma: Mohs' micrographic surgery versus radiotherapy

In treating periocular basal cell carcinoma the goal is to achieve the most complete eradication of affected tissue while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. In the first of these "Viewpoints" articles, Drs. Leshin and Yeatts discuss the success of Mohs' microsurgical technique (MMS) in both regards. Moreover, they note that MMS offers the additional advantage of placing all surgical and histological phases of tumor excision in the hands of one specialist, thus circumventing problems that may arise with procedures requiring the separate involvement of several specialists. In the second article, Drs. Anscher and Montana point out that modern radiotherapy techniques may offer adequate tumor control with less damage to surrounding tissues than is caused by surgical excision and reconstruction. With small lesions, radiotherapy has a success rate similar to that of surgery. With large lesions, the success rate is lower; however, if surgical excision would cause extensive disfigurement or functional damage, an initial trial of radiotherapy may be warranted, then followed by surgery, if necessary. In an editorial, Dr. Dutton summarizes the indications for and advantages and disadvantages of both techniques.

Radical radiotherapy for T4 carcinoma of the skin of the head and neck: a multivariate analysis

Sixty-seven patients with 68 stage T4 carcinomas of the skin of the head and neck were treated with radical radiotherapy at the University of Florida between October 1964 and November 1989. Thirty-three lesions were previously untreated and 35 were recurrent. Twenty-nine lesions were squamous cell carcinomas, 37 were basal cell carcinomas, and 2 were basosquamous carcinomas. Minimum follow-up was 2 years. The 5-year local control, local control including surgical salvage, and cause-specific survival probabilities were 53%, 74%, and 75%, respectively. Local control rates with radiotherapy alone were poorer in patients with recurrent lesions (41% vs. 67%, p = .07) or bone involvement (40% vs. 62%, p = .08). Results were analyzed by multivariate methods using local control, local control with surgical salvage, and cause-specific survival as endpoints. The parameters analyzed were histology; size of primary lesion; previous treatment (previously untreated vs. recurrent); involvement of bone, nerve, or cartilage; and skeletal muscle invasion. Three important prognostic factors were identified, each predictive of poorer ultimate local control and cause-specific survival rates: (a) bone involvement (p < .01); (b) recurrent lesions (p < .01); and (c) nerve involvement (p < .02). Radiotherapy alone can control advanced carcinomas of the skin of the head and neck, although lesions that have recurred after prior treatment and those with involvement of bone or nerve are associated with a lower likelihood of cure.

Non-melanoma skin cancer: an evaluation of risk in terms of ultraviolet exposure

A retrospective study of 143 patients histologically diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) was carried out in order to evaluate the influence of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the appearance of more than one NMSC in the same person. Descriptive statistical and logistic regression analyses were carried out for each variable and its possible interaction, in order to determine the potential appearance of multiple NMSC. The results obtained were in agreement with those of earlier studies. A significant relationship was observed between occupational UV exposure and individuals with more than one NMSC. Those patients tended to be blue-eyed and were chronically exposed to UV radiation as a result of occupational activities (although not always in leisure activities); most did not take protective measures such as the use of hats or creams.

Radiation therapy for skin cancer near the eye: kilovoltage x-rays versus electrons

When skin cancer near the eye is irradiated, a corneal shield is placed between the lids and globe to protect ocular structures. The effectiveness of the shield was evaluated with 250 kVp x-ray and 6-20 MeV electron beams. To simulate the clinical situation, a face phantom was constructed out of solid pieces of water-equivalent epoxy. In the region of the eye the phantom was milled to the exact contour of a human face. The phantom was used to reconstruct the setup that had been used to treat a patient with a 1-cm basal cell carcinoma of the mid portion of the lower lid. A medium-sized corneal shield (2-mm-thick lead plated with 0.1 mm gold) was placed on the eye portion of the phantom. A contoured lead (6 mm thick) face mask was placed on the surface of the phantom to define a 3-cm diameter radiation field that included only the inferior hemisphere of the shield. The doses that the cornea, lens, and retina would receive beneath the midpoint of the inferior hemisphere of the shield were measured using thermoluminescent and film dosimetry. With 6 to 8 MeV electrons, the corneal dose was 2 to 4 times higher than with 250 kVp x-rays. Corneal and lens doses rose rapidly with increasing electron beam energy such that with greater than 8 MeV the shield would provide relatively poor ocular protection. A scanning ion chamber and film dosimetry were used to determine the isodose profiles of 250 kVp x-ray and 6 MeV electron beams for a 3-cm diameter field collimated on the surface. With 250 kVp x-rays the 95% isodose area was 32% wider than with 6 MeV electrons. The ease of shielding and the ability to minimize field size argue in favor of kilovoltage x-rays for early-stage skin cancer near the eye.

Biology of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Nonmelanoma skin cancer is the leading cause of cancer in the United States. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is second only to basal cell carcinoma in prevalence and its incidence is increasing. The biology of squamous cell carcinoma is reviewed under the broad areas of etiology, immunobiology, biochemistry, metastatic potential, and therapy, with emphasis on prevention, diagnosis, and management.

Basal cell carcinoma treated with radiation therapy

Between 1974 and 1989, 85 patients with 115 biopsy-proven basal cell carcinomas were treated with radiation therapy at the University Medical Center in Tucson. Either orthovoltage or megavoltage photons were used to deliver doses ranging from 2000 cGy in a single treatment to 7300 cGy in 35 fractions over 62 days. The median length of follow-up was 40 months. Kaplan-Meier estimates of the 5-year local control rates are presented by American Joint Committee on Cancer stage. The difference between the local control rates for both previously untreated and recurrent Stage I and II carcinomas (95% at 5 years) and Stage III and IV carcinomas (56% at 5 years) was statistically significant (P = 0.0001, by Mantel-Haensel test). Although recurrent basal cell carcinomas generally have a worse prognosis, the Kaplan-Meier estimate of the 5-year local control rate for recurrent Stage I and II carcinomas treated with radiation therapy was 95%. These results, along with a review of the literature, suggest two points: (1) high cure rates can be obtained when Stage I and II basal cell carcinomas are treated with radiation therapy and (2) radiation therapy is a relatively effective method for treating recurrent basal cell carcinomas, with cure rates surpassed only by Mohs micrographic surgery.

External irradiation of epithelial skin cancer

A total of 339 consecutively treated, biopsy proven squamous and basal cell carcinomas of the skin treated from January 1966 to December 1986 were retrospectively analyzed to determine the patterns of local recurrence. There were 242 basal cell carcinomas, 92 squamous cell carcinomas, and 5 variants of squamous cell carcinoma in various locations. Radiotherapy was the initial treatment modality in 212 patients and 127 were treated after failing initial surgical excision. Lymph nodes were involved in 1/242 patients (.4%) with basal cell carcinoma, 14/92 patients (15%) with initially treated squamous cell carcinoma, and 20/51 (39%) with recurrent squamous cell lesions. Distant metastasis was found in one patient. Superficial X rays were given to 187 patients, electrons to 57 patients, megavoltage photons to 15, and a combination of modalities to the remainder. Overall local tumor control was achieved in 292 of 339 patients (86%), 220 of 242 (91%) with basal cell and 73 of 97 (75%) with squamous cell carcinoma. Tumor control was closely related to the size of the primary lesion. For lesions less than 1 cm tumor control was 97% (86/89) for basal cell and 91% (21/23) for squamous cell carcinoma. For 1 to 5 cm, tumor control was 87% (116/133) for basal cell and 76% (39/51) for squamous cell carcinoma and for lesions greater than 5 cm, the tumor control was 87% (13 of 15) and 56% (9/16), respectively. Tumor control was related to the modality used to treat the patient in spite of stratification of primary lesion size. For superficial X rays, tumor control was 98% (81/83) for lesions less than 1 cm, 93% (94/101) for lesions 1-5 cm and 100% (5/5) for lesions greater than 5 cm. For electrons tumor control was 88% (14/16), 72% (23/32), and 78% (7/9), respectively. For mixed beams tumor control was 90% (9/10), 76% (32/42), and 64% (9/14), respectively, and for 60Co-4 MV X rays, tumor control was 100% (3/3), 67% (6/9), and 33% (1/3), respectively. Cosmesis and complications were analyzed in 261 patients. An excellent or good cosmetic result was found in 92% (239/261) of the patients. There were 8 of 261 patients (3.1%) with fair and 19 of 261 (7.3%) with poor cosmesis. Cosmesis had an inverse relation to the primary lesion size with 97 of 99 patients (98%) with tumors 1 cm or less, 123 of 140 patients (88%) with lesions 1 to 5 cm and 13 of 16 patients (82%) with larger tumors having excellent or good cosmetic results. Cosmesis is also related to treatment modality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)